Artificial golf green



Sept. 12, 1939. H. HALL ARTIFICIAL GOLF GREEN Filed Jan. 10. 1939 2 Shee'-Sheet` 1V INVENTOR ATTO R N EVS Sept. 12, 1939.

l.. H. HALL i 2,173,014 l ARTIFICIAL GOLF GREEN Filed Janl io, 1959 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTOR N EYS Patented Sept. 12, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ARTIFICIAL GOLF GREEN Lewis Harold Hall, Chicago, Ill.

Application January 10, 1939, Serial No. 250,211

Claims.

The invention relates to a golf green and more especially to an artificial or practice golf green.

The primary object of. the invention is the pro- Vision of a green of this character, wherein on 5 the erection thereof in a practice golf ball driving course for a game of golf enables a person, when practice driving, to aim for the green and the sinking or dropping of a b-all in a hole therein with the result that the driving practice is supplemented by green practice or such practice acquired independently of each other.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a green of this character, wherein the construction thereof when set up is imitative of a regular green in a golf course and when a ball is sunk in the hole in this green an audible signal is given, the hole being automatically closed to avoid the entrance or admission of a second ball therein during the use of said green particularly when a ball has been advanced on the green beyond the hole and rolls back in the direction thereof..

A further object of the invention is the provision of a green of this character, wherein the construction thereof is such that on the overrunning of the ball beyond the hole the said ball will be prevented from gaining entry or admission to the hole and in this manner requiring the sinking or dropping of the ball in the hole at the approach side of the green.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a green of this character, wherein the balls reaching the same will be trapped and cleared from the green for easy recovery of such balls during practice periods.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a green of. this character, which is simple in its construction, thoroughly reliable and eiiicient in operation, economic in its build, strong, durable, imitative of a sod green, and inexpensive to manufacture and install.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, which disclose the preferred embodiment of the invention and pointed out in the claims hereunto appended.

In the accompanying drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of the green constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional View of the green.

Figure 3 is a sectional View on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical sectional View at the hole area of the green.

Figure 5 is a detail plan View of said area.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, A designates generally the green in its entirety, being erected or built at a course for the practicing of plays in a game of golf, more especially in a driving course so that both the driving of a golf ball and the dropping of such ball in a hole in the green or the approach to said green may be practiced or Ythe practice of driving and the sinking of the ball in the hole in the green independently of each other. The green A comprises a frame structure including base rails I0, uprights I I and upper bars or beams I2, respectively, these being united in any suitable manner and are sov formed to create an artificial mound and this frame supports an inclined platform or inclined playing bed I3 sloping in one direction for meeting a ground surface of that arranged within a fairway of a golf course or a practice driving course for golf balls. The platform is superimposed upon the bars or beams I2, being made fast to the frame in any desirable manner, while marginally of this platform I3 at the two opposite sides and at the elevated rearmost end thereof is a continuous ridge formation I4, being constructed from plates I5. The ridge I4 at opposite sides of the platform I3 is tapered in the direction of the lowermost end of the said platform and the wider areas of these side portions of the ridge I4 merge into the rear portion of said ridge, which rear portion in height agrees with the wider portions of, the ridges at opposite sides of the platform and the surface I6 of this ridge i4 next to the platform I3 inclines in its direction. The ridge I4 at the outer side thereof has associated therewith perpendicular or vertical plates I'I which cover opposite sides and the rear portion of the frame supporting said platform while deposited against these plates I."I are dirt or earth risers I8 and I9, respectively, with outwardly sloped or inclined outer surfaces, the risers I8 being tapered corresponding to and in the direction to the lay of the platform I3 with the ridge in association therewith at opposite sides of the mound.

The platform I3 having its lay within the ridge I4 constitutes a playing area for practicing green plays in the game of golf, for example, putting, approach shots and driving shots of a golf ball for the sinking or dropping of the latter into a hole in the green.

At the selected point of the platform I3 is an opening or hole 2D for the reception of a golf ball and leading from this hole beneath the platform I3 is a pipe-like discharge chute 2I having a minor portion thereof perpendicular next to the hole, as at 22, and a major portion inclined rearwardly or reversely to the inclined position of the platform I3, as at 23. This inclined major portion 23 is carried through the frame and risers I9 for communication with a trap 24 for golf balls, the

said trap being disposed rearmost of the green created by the mound. The trap 24 is in the form of a box or pan and is countersunk in the ground with the surface thereof next to said trap sloping at 25 in the direction thereof. Located at the point of merger approach of the ridge I4 with the platform I3 is a ball alley or runway trough, being countersunk to the plane of the platform I3 and the surface IG of the said ridge I4 and the stretches 26 of such trough or alley disposed transversely of the platform I3 next to the portion of the ridge I4 rearmost of said platform reversely inclined from a center longitudinal axis of the mound or green and the said stretches 25 are continuations of the side stretches 21 of the alley or trough, these side stretches 2 being countersunk relative to the plane of the platform I3 between the side portions of the ridge I4 at opposite sides of the said platform. The stretches 21 follow the incline of the lay of the platform I3 and open into a return runway or trough 28, which is carried about the mound crosswise of the lowermost end of the said platform i3 and rearwardly in a divergent rearward disposition with respect to the side stretches 29 whence the return runway or trough 28 continues in a sloping direction to and in communication with the trap 24 so that when golf balls are driven onto the green or mound at the platform I3 thereof and fail to drop into the hole or opening 2Q in said platform, these balls will roll into the alley or trough for the retrieving thereof and the sending of the same into the trap 24 for their convenient recovery at this point. At the farther or higher side of the opening or hole 20 in the platform I3 beyond the lowermost approach side 3U of this green or mound is an undershot ball recovering runway or trough involving rearwardly convergent stretches 3| merging into each other at the longitudinal center axis of the green and reversely angled to said axis with merger into the stretches 27 and balls driven beyond the hole or opening 20 onto the platform I3 will be caused to roll in the direction of the said stretches 3l of the recovery trough by gravity action whence they will be caused to deposit in the trap 24 for recovery thereof. The stretch 28 and said stretches 3I are undershot with relation to the overhanging portions 32 and 33, respectively, the portion 34A of the platform I3 being resloped for effecting the overhanging portion 33 while the overhanging portion 33 is effected by a lip formation 35 at the approach side of the green or mound. The central part of the overhanging portion 33 is rearward of and adjacent to the hole or opening 2U and from which rises a deiiector block 36, being of substantially heart shape with the Wider end directly next to the said hole or opening 20 and the purpose of this block is to avoid any possibility of a golf ball rolling into the hole or opening 20after it has passed the same and rolled back by gravity on the platform I3, being required that the golf ball roll or drop into the hole or opening 20 on the approach side thereof of the green or mound.

Suitably fixed to the platform I3 is a perpendicular flag stick 3'I carrying a marker flag 38 for the hole 20 and being braced by a brace arm 39 suitably xed to the platform and the said ag stick, respectively.

The chute 2| at the hole or opening 2|) in the platform I3 is provided with a drop gate or closure door 40, being hinged at 4I and the hinge therefor is equipped with a spring 42 urging the gate or door to closing position relative to the opening or hole 20 while in the path of the opening movement of the gate or door interiorly of the chute is a ball release latch 43 which is disposed in the path of a ball 44 when dropping into the hole or opening 2D and thence into the chute 2| so that when the gate or door 40 is in a latched open position the ball 44 contacting with the latch 43 effects the immediate release of the gate or door for the activity of the spring 42 for the closing of said door and thereby avoiding the entry or dropping of another ball into the hole or opening 2U until the gate or door has again been opened. The closing movement of the door or gate 4f) is regulated by a stop 45 at the opening or hole 2U.

At the delivery end of the chute 2| is a hinged gate or door ri carrying a normally open electric switch 4l arranged in an electric circuit 48, which has therein an audible signal device such as a ball 49, preferably supported upon a post or upright 56 anchored in a xed position. The gate or door 46 is held releasably closed by a hand latch and when in closed position and the passage of a ball 44 through the chute 2 I toward the delivery end thereof through contact of said ball with the switch lll, the latter becomes closed for the sounding of the audible signal 49 to indicate the ball within the chute 2l having reached the delivery end of said chute and the freeing of the ball from the chute will be had when the gate or door is manually opened. This ball, when freed, will be deposited from the delivery end of the chute 2| into the trap 24 therefor.

The platform I3 and the ridge I4 are suitably treated, preferably with a coating effecting articial grass, denoted at 52, and in this there is used a base of ply wood, painted or sprayed with shellac or glue, then taking rock wool, spread out evenly over the exposed surfaces of the platform I3 and ridge I4 to a thickness of several inches, the wool being pressed into the glue or shellac to an even thickness over all of about one-half an inch and thereafter finished with a thin mixture of sprayed paint of a light green shade. rIhis artificial grass will give a cushion effect to the green or mound and additionally insure against warpage due to heat or water and also make the green or mound waterproof. It is preferable to make the gutters, alleys or troughs of metal although the same may be made from wood, the chute 2| being made from a metal pipe.

In the use of the green or mound, a player of the game of golf can readily and easily practice putting for the sinking of a golf ball in the hole in the green or for accomplishing this when practicing the driving of the ball over a practice driving course What is claimed is:

1. A green of the character described comprising a framing having a covering forming an inclined bed provided with a hole therein, a ridge built at opposite inclined sides and the rearmost elevated end of said bed, a trap rearward to the rear elevated portion of said bed, a chute leading from the hole in the direction of the trap for communication with the latter, a drop door for closing said hole, means for moving the door to a position for closing said hole, and a ball-actuated releasing means within the chute for latching the door in an open position.

2. A green of the character described comprising a framing having a covering forming an inclined bed provided with a hole therein, a ridge built at opposite inclined sides and the rearmost elevated end of said bed, .a trap rearward to the rear elevated portion of said bed, a chute leading from the hole in the direction of the trap for communication with the latter, a drop door for closing said hole, means for moving the door to a position for closing said hole, a ball-actuated releasing means within the chute for latching the door in an open position, a door tting the chute next to the trap, means latching the lastmentioned door closed, a normally open ball closing switch on the last-mentioned door, .an audible signal, and an electric circuit including said switch and said signal for the operation of the latter on the closing of the switch.

3. A green of the character described comprising a framing having a covering forming an inclined bed provided with a hole therein, a ridge built at opposite inclined sides and the rearmost elevated end of said bed, a trap rearward to the rear elevated portion of said bed, a chute leading from the hole in the direction of the trap for communication with the latter, ,a drop door for closing said hole, means for moving the door to a position for closing said hole, a ball-actuated releasing means within the chute for latching the door in an open position, a door tting the chute next to the trap, means latching the last-mentioned door closed, a normally open ball closing switch on the last-mentioned door, an audible signal, an electric circuit including said switch and said signal for the operation of the latter on the closing of the switch, and a ball-catching trough disposed rearwardly, forwardly and at opposite sides with respect to the point of location of the hole and in communication with the said trap for delivering balls from the said bed into the trap.

4. A green of the character described comprising a framing having a covering forming an inclined bed provided with a. hole therein, a ridge built at opposite inclined sides and the rearmost elevated end of said bed, a trap rearward to the rear elevated portion of said bed, a chute leading from the hole in the direction of the trap for communication with the latter, a drop door for closing said hole, means for moving the door to a position for closing said hole, a ball-actuated releasing means within the chute for latching the door in an open position, a door fitting the chute next to the trap, means latching the lastmentioned door closed, a normally open ball closing switch on the last-mentioned door, an audible signal, .an electric circuit including said switch and said signal for the operation of the latter on the closing of the switch, a ball-catching trough disposed rearwardly, forwardly and at opposite sides with respect to the point of location of the hole and in communication with the said trap for delivering balls from the said bed into the trap, one of said troughs being underhung with relation to the plane of the hole in said bed, and a deflector block at the underhung trough and immediately rearward of said hole between it and the higher rear end of said bed.

5. A green of the character described comprising a framing having a covering forming an inclined bed provided with a hole therein, a ridge built at opposite inclined sides and the rearmost elevated end of said bed, a trap rearward to the rear elevated portion of said bed, a chute leading from the hole in the direction of the trap for communication with the latter, a drop door for closing said hole, means for moving the door to a position for closing said hole, a ball-actuated releasing means within the chute for latching the door in an open position, a door fitting the chute next to the trap, means latching the lastmentioned door closed, a normally open ball closing switch on the last-mentioned door, an audible signal, an electric circuit including said switch and said signal for the operation of the latter on the closing of the switch, a ball-catching trough disposed rearwardly, forwardly and at opposite sides with respect to the point of location of the hole and in communication with the said trap for delivering balls from the said bed into the trap, one of said troughs being underhung with relation to the plane of the hole in said bed, a deflector block at the underhung trough and immediately rearward of said hole between it and the higher rear end of said bed, and a marker on the bed and identifying the hole therein,

LEWIS H. HALL. 

